Topic: Landscape

Author: Chris Dunn

Kellin sat for a long time in his peaceful spot on the forested hill. He loved this place because there was a rare break in the almost absolute canopy that blanketed the hills, and through it he could see the entirety of the village and the many peaks which ringed the isolated, and nameless, community. Kellin knew each house and had climbed every peak in his field of vision. He could almost picture the activity going on in every house he beheld. It was getting on toward evening and smoke was springing through the chimneys from cook fires all over town. He imagined the various families busy at their evenings, each cast unique, but much of the action playing out the same, just under different roofs.

Kellin located his own house, nestled under the giant oak which showered the roof with acorns every time the fall winds blew. Its chimney was still cold. Inside his mother would be waiting for him to return – as was her way - before starting the meal. She would cook, and he would sit at the table and tell her all he could of his studies that day as the small room filled with the familiar salty, boiling scent of stew. And she would smile and nod, like she understood, which always bothered him a little bit. He didn’t even fully understand half of what he was learning! He would soak in her approval and bask in her pride, and they would eat and guess at what the next day would hold in store.

This time, however, would be different. This time, he knew exactly what he had learned, and he knew precisely what tomorrow held. On the morrow he was going to leave, head off up the twisting river road which stretched out of the valley, this valley whose familiar confines were all the world he had ever known.

There, on that steep hill, not far behind his house, he had taken a bad spill years ago. The rocks had slipped under his feet as he had scrambled toward its summit. He had fallen, sliding and scraping, his limbs flailing, until he came to an abrupt halt against a half-buried boulder.  Lying there crying in pain, but too scared he would be punished if he called out and his father found him. He wasn’t supposed to be out exploring by himself, but youth and vanity are friends at the start. They had convinced him he could reach the top and return in safety. At that time, he had thought it amazingly fortunate that his father had been able to locate him. To his mind, he was miles away lost in distant hills. Today, from his current vantage, he could see just how close the house had been – just a short stroll up the hillside, really. His parents probably heard him cry out as he fell and come straight to his aid, but it had felt like hours of agony, lost and alone. Even now he couldn’t remember exactly how his rescue had occurred.

All his memory held was his father’s strong arms cradling him with ease as he carried Kellin back to the house. His wounds had been superficial, and the dreaded punishment for his disobedience never fell. Oh there were lectures, stern words about the dangers of hills, bears, rocks, wolves, bandits, wild cats, insects… The list was long and overflowed with the stuff of children’s nightmares, but he wasn’t restricted or restrained, in fact, it was from that day his parents began allowing him  more freedom. Once his wounds had healed, mother had sent him off to Widow Freyna’s to pick up some herbs. All by himself! All the way across town! It had been meant as part of his punishment, but Kelvin had never before been permitted to go so far on his own, nor had he been entrusted with a task of any such importance.

Now as he looked, he could see how short a trek it really had been. His parents could probably have watched him almost the entire way. How old had he been? How huge the village had seemed. And now here it was, full in his vision, a tiny, insignificant, little valley town. Nestled here in the bucolic landscape of cramped hills covered with trees dyed a thousand different hues as fall took their leaves. Unknown to most people, this place was Kellin’s whole world. And now, just as he had come to be able to see it, he had to leave…